I pulled my hair into a ponytail, then slipped on my tennis shoes, and headed out to see if Grandma needed help in the kitchen. Though she wasn’t attending my party, she’d wanted to make some food for me to take. Neither Colby nor Landon would turn down that offer.
She stood in the kitchen, staring at her phone like it was a foreign object or possessed, or maybe both. God, I would miss her.
“Problems?” I reached into the cabinet and pulled down a glass.
“This thing keeps pinging at me and I don’t know why.”
I hid my grin as I filled my glass with water.
“I still don’t know why I need this thing.”
“Just in case, Grandma. Like if your car breaks down or you need help. Or maybe just so I can say hi when I move away.”
She nodded. “I know, but does it need to be so fancy?”
“It’s not even the newest model.” I laughed. “Maybe it’s a notification. Let me check it.”
Her mailbox had over thirty messages.
“Grandma, you see this little red number?”
“I can barely see my breakfast. How am I supposed to see that? Que pequeño.”
“Well, I know it’s small, but it means you have emails.”
“Ay, who has time for that?” She tossed her phone onto the counter and slid an oven mitt over her hand. “Are you excited about the party?”
“Yeah. It will be fun. Are you sure you don’t want to go?”
“Nobody wants a vieja at the party.”
“Grandma, you are not an old lady. And everyone loves you.”
“It’s okay, mija, you enjoy yourself. But right now, why don’t you help me by getting down the flour.”
“Of course.”
She smiled back at me, then kept chattering the entire time we baked.
Grandma and I were two of a kind, and it was clear where I found my love of talking, but when I spent time with her I also found my love for listening. She beamed positivity. Too bad Dad hadn’t inherited any of her qualities. Grandma always swore he was like his father who, no coincidence, she’d divorced over twenty years ago. I hardly knew him, but had the impression he wasn’t someone worth really getting to know anyway.
I considered asking her about what happened with Luis, suspecting she might have known, but a tiny fear that she didn’t and I’d be the one to break it to her held me back. I couldn’t bring down her spirit. I know how I’d felt after hearing it; I could only imagine how she’d feel.
Once she’d assured me I’d done everything I could to help her, I started getting ready for the party. Considering I was taking over enough food to feed an army, I decided to get there early.
After showering, fixing my hair, and putting on makeup, I settled on wearing the same dress I’d worn to Grandma’s party. I really loved it and probably wouldn’t get the chance to wear it again. Might as well get another use out of it.
Grandma helped me load my car, then sent me on my way with a kiss and ten dollars. I had no idea what I needed ten dollars for, but she insisted I take it. Maybe it was gas money, or just in case I needed to take a cab home. I really had no clue and would just drop it back in her purse later anyway, so to avoid argument, I thanked her and slipped it in my pocket.
When I pulled up to the guys’ house, I sent a text asking if one of them could help me carry in all the food.
Landon appeared almost instantly.
“Hey.”
“You’re like a puppy at dinnertime.”
He grinned. “Your grandma should open a restaurant.”
“You’d keep her in business.”
He chuckled as he stacked dishes on top of one another, then carried them inside. I followed with the rest.
Colby stared at the spread as we set it on the table. “Damn, has she been cooking for a week?”
“Since five this morning. I told her she didn’t need to, but she enjoys it. I helped with the cookies though. And the salsa.”
“Aw, look at you being all domestic,” Colby teased, and I grinned.
“I can cook, just never have to with Grandma around.”
“I’m sure she’s taught you well though.” Colby nudged my shoulder. “Let’s get you a drink. Landon, mix her up something special.”
“Nothing too strong,” I quickly added. “We’ve got a lot of day left.”
Soon everyone else started showing up. Taylor and Brandon got there as well, and it felt like any other get-together. But it wasn’t…because it was my last, for a while at least. There’d probably be others when I came home for visits, but it wouldn’t be the same. I couldn’t just pop over here whenever I felt like it. There’d be no more late night impromptu bonfires. Colby wouldn’t show up at work for a bite to eat. This was really it. But it wasn’t just the people; it was everything. My entire life had been spent here. Port Lucia was home.